With the complexity of modern AI systems, they sometimes come up with solutions we don’t expect … when we least expect it. Here’s a great video example of this; an AIBO robot is presented with a problem that seems to have only one possible solution. Can you figure out more than one? The AIBO can.
It’s an unfortunate fact that there’s no single, online information source that covers machines that can compose music, invent patentable ideas, or make up stories on their own (yes, all of these exist). So, let’s fix that, shall we?
Today I’m introducing something new on Think Artificial: A Living Article. It’s not exactly a blog entry, wiki nor a static page, but an article that I intend to gradually add to and improve upon. The article is an easy-read overview of artificial creativity, or at least the beginning of one. You can always find it through the main menu, and I’ll be posting notifications whenever it’s significantly updated. Moreover, I invite you to help create it!
A new school semester has dawned and once again I find myself scuttering about to prepare for what’s ahead. It’s funny, nevermind the fact that it happens every year, surprise never fails to rear its horns when I suddenly realize it’s almost winter again. Jump started by the usual strong cup of coffee and inhalation of deadly nicotine, my day is now full of people with bad English accents pimping out Powerpoint slides. And I’m sitting there thinking how the learning process could be different.
Ladies and gentlemen, I’m officially announcing a new titleholder of ‘Happiest Robot in the World‘ (formerly held by Plen)! Now here’s a dancing can of Coke done right, to say the least! Keepon is a little, yellow-but-snowman-like robot that dances to music and reacts to sights and sounds. The idea might sound stale, but I gurantee Keepon will make you smile. Seriously, if he doesn’t make you smile I’m tempted to think you’re dead inside!
As most of us know, and shouldn’t come as a surprise to those who don’t, the military has a fervent eye on applications of AI in wars. While most modern military robots are remote controlled by humans, there are around 4,000 robots currently in Iraq, and governments don’t intend to stop at that. The goal is full autonomy, and we’re getting there. A recent article on increased autonomy of war machines mentions a few real life examples of current semi-autonomy, such as the use of the Predator unmanned aerial vehicle, and DARPA’s intentions to explore systems that make life-and-death decisions on their own.
I work on artificial creativity. That’s my main focus of research and development. Some people fix cars, others collect dolls. I work on making machines capable of original thought. The strange thing is that I haven’t been letting it shine through on Think Artificial, mainly because I’ve been searching for the right way to talk about it. But from now on there’ll be regular coverage of this important and almost magical concept. Will computers ever be capable of invention?
The government of China is getting ready to set up around 20,000 cameras throughout the city of Shenzen, the NYTimes reports, and the city already has 180,000 owned by the government and private companies. They’re not as much cameras as they are eyes, though, as they’re part of a plan to use AI software to constantly track and identify people’s faces and unusual activities in hunt for police suspects and crime. The police will have the right to link pre-existing cameras at any time into the system. Two-hundred-thousand cameras! My AI science enthusiasm screams “Interesting!” but my human alter-ego simply screams.
After having studied publications and information on Radar Networks for a recent blog post, I decided I might as well write a Wikipedia article on them while I’m at it. Less than an hour (one hour!) after my initial publication of the article somebody had come along and tagged it, suggesting that it was written as an “advertisement”. Is it just my inexperience with Wikipedia, or does it seem a bit strange for someone to instantly slap a tag on it … even while I’m still doing modifications?
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